1899.] 
LOCAL TRADITION. 
59 
few other localities again like Jayapura, Damodara’s Udar , CaJcradhara , 
there were well-known popular legends which plainly indicated their 
identity with sites mentioned in the Ttajatarahgini. But for the great 
mass of ancient places there were no special reasons of this kind to 
assure a recollection of their old names. It is hence only natural that 
all genuine knowledge of their identity and earlier history has gradu¬ 
ally disappeared from the Pandits’ tradition. 
Nothing but systematic enquiry on the lines of modern historical 
research could help towards a recovery of the knowledge thus lost. 
But such an enquiry could not be expected either from P. Saliibram 
or any other indigenous scholar uninfluenced by Western critical 
methods. 
35. Popular local tradition has fortunately in Kasmir proved far 
more tenacious than the tradition of the 
Popu.laiM.oeal tradi learned. I have often derived from it valuable 
aid in my local search for particular sites. My 
antiquarian tours have given me ample opportunity to convince myself 
that when collected with caution and critically sifted, such local tradi¬ 
tions can safely be accepted as supplements to the topographical infor¬ 
mation of our written records. In illustration of this statement I may 
refer to the evidence gathered from local tradition in reference to the 
sites of LoJiara, 1 Hastivanja , 2 Kramavarta , 3 Jayapura , 4 Skandabhavana , 5 
etc. 
In more than one instance it can be shown that local legends which 
Kalhana heard, still cling unchanged to the same sites. As striking 
examples may be mentioned here the legends concerning Damodara’s 
Udar , 6 the burned city of King Nara , 7 the temple of Pravaresa . 8 
It cannot be doubted that this tenacity of local tradition in Kasmir 
is due largely to the isolation secured for the country by its alpine 
position. Nothing is more instructive in this respect than a comparison 
with the territories of ancient Grandhara and Udyana, or with the Panjab 
plains. These regions so rich in ancient Hindu sites are particularly 
devoid of local traditions connected with them. This fact is easily 
understood if we think of the many and great ethnic changes which 
1 See Raj at. Note E (iv. 177), § 15. 
2 See Rajat. note i. 302, and J. A. S. B., 1895, pp. 379 sq . 
8 Compare Note D (iii. 227); J. A. S. B., 1895, pp. 381 sq ; also below, § 43. 
4 See note iv. 506 sqq., and below, § 122. 
& See Note K (vi. 137). 
6 See note i. 156; below, § 119. 
7 See note i. 202 ; below, § 108. 
8 See note iii. 350; below, § 96. 
